Letters to the Editor

November 04, 2009

It was Fox News that went to war with Obama

To the editor:

I am deeply concerned by Charles Krauthammer's column of Oct. 25 .

It is dishonest to accuse the White House of going to war with Fox News. He knows better than that. It is Fox News that went to war with Obama, starting when Obama first became the Democratic candidate for president.

And Fox News has been slinging mud at Obama ever since.

And now that Obama decided to fight back, the right-wing conservatives accuse the administration of going after Fox News because they are "critical."

That is disgusting. They are, in effect, glorifying their previous mud-slinging.

We don't need that. I think a response to Krauthammer is in order.

Hans K. Buhrer
Smithsburg

Add troops in Afghanistan or bring them home

To the editor:

It has been almost two months since Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the U.S. commanding general of our troops in Afghanistan, requested an additional 40,000 troops. These additional troops are needed for security and protection of troops already there. There is no irony in the fact that more Americans have died in October 2009 (59) than in any other month over the course of eight years.

President Obama has told us the war in Afghanistan "is a war of necessity." However, inaction by this administration would indicate otherwise. More stalling and indecision will make Americans in Afghanistan that much more vulnerable. The war cannot (and should not) be micromanaged by Washington, a la Vietnam. This president must trust the recommendations of the commander that he handpicked.

Those Americans paying attention know our fighting forces in Afghanistan are feeling like a ship without a rudder, being unsure of their mission and questioning the lack of support they are getting. Moreover, just what victory would look like has not been defined, thus it is no surprise that troop morale is at an all-time low. Apparently, this president is either out of touch or is treating our men and women in uniform as political pawns. He would do well to heed the words of Gen. George Patton, who said, "compared to war, all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance."

Fellow Americans, as we approach Veterans Day, let us rise up and demand timely and full support of our troops. We must make it clear to those in Washington that we will never tolerate another Vietnam.

Mr. President, do the right thing. If you will not resource the war effort, bring our troops home now.

Jim Rosko
retired U.S. Navy senior chief
Boonsboro

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